The India Honey Alliance (IHA), in collaboration with NIFTEM-K, successfully hosted the ‘Hive to Home: Vision2030 – Building a Scientific & Sustainable Honey Industry’ seminar at the India International Centre. The event aligned with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Honey Mission and focused on strengthening India’s honey value chain through scientific advancements and sustainable practices
Key Highlights of the Seminar:
The seminar brought together policymakers, scientists, and industry leaders to discuss crucial aspects such as quality assurance, sustainability, and global competitiveness in India’s honey industry.
Notable Attendees
Among the distinguished attendees were:
- Dr. Subrata Gupta (IAS), Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)
- Dr. H.S. Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM-K
- Dr. Satyen Panda, Advisor, QA, FSSAI
- Dr. Kaushik Banerjee, Director, ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes
- Dr. Rajesh R Nair, Deputy Managing Director, NDDB CALF
- Dr. Komal Chauhan, Dean Research and Outreach, Head CFRA & CEFF
- Sh. Balasubramanian K, Joint Director, Quality Assurance, FSSAI
- Dr. Ranjan Mitra, Immediate past President, AOAC International-India Section
Insights from the Seminar:
Call for Scientific Beekeeping Practices
Dr. Subrata Gupta emphasized the importance of protecting bees and scientifically training beekeepers to maintain the authenticity of honey. He urged FSSAI to collaborate with NIFTEM and other institutions to establish honey standards relevant to India.
He also highlighted the necessity of scientific advancements in testing methodologies to uphold global benchmarks and regulatory frameworks, ensuring India’s continued leadership as a top honey producer and exporter.
Focus on Quality Standards & Global Competitiveness
The opening session, moderated by Mr. Deepak Jolly, Secretary General, IHA, focused on making Indian honey future-ready for both domestic and international markets. Discussions covered honey standards, safety, purity, and industry challenges.
Mr. Narayanan Renganathan, Chairperson, IHA, provided industry perspectives on challenges and potential solutions. Dr. Samuel Godefroy, Former Vice Chairperson, FAO/CODEX Alimentarius, joining virtually, stressed the importance of scientific evaluation in regulatory decision-making and ongoing risk assessments on Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in honey.
Addressing Challenges in Testing & Regulation
A panel discussion on ‘Harmonization to Ensure Quality, Safety through Standards & Testing’ explored critical issues such as:
- Lack of standardized honey testing protocols
- Need for stronger regulatory frameworks
- Importance of debunking honey-related myths through scientific validation
Mansoor Ali, Vice Chairperson, IHA, and Amit Gupta highlighted strategies for strengthening the honey supply chain. Mr. Ed George, Global Key Opinion Leader, joined virtually from the USA to discuss advancements in honey testing technology addressing emerging challenges.
Key Recommendations from the Seminar:
Experts proposed several actionable recommendations:
- Scientific Research & Standardization – Conduct comprehensive studies on Indian honey to revise standards and quality benchmarks.
- Regulatory Compliance – Strengthen frameworks to ensure authenticity and consumer trust.
- Consumer Awareness – Educate consumers on honey quality and authenticity.
- Beekeeper Training & Sustainability – Develop advanced training programs to enhance productivity and innovation in beekeeping practices.
Conclusion:
Summarizing the seminar, Mr. Narayanan Renganathan, Chairperson, IHA, emphasized that maintaining trust in honey quality is a shared responsibility. He stressed the need for sustained collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to position India as a benchmark for high-quality, sustainable honey production.
With these collective efforts, India is poised to strengthen its honey industry, ensuring both domestic and global market competitiveness while maintaining high quality and sustainability standards.
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